Life preserver



Feb. 22, 1927.

. J. MCSHERRY LIFE PRESERVER Filed Nov. so, `1925 1 JAMES Meeren, .0F ST PAUL,

' I Fig. l is'a'view Patented Feb. 22, 1 927.

MNNQSOTA., .Assieme Te@ MARY MCSHaReY, @chiamasse-ve 'L1-.FE .eREseRvE-f Application filed November 3G, 1925; Serial No. 72,155.

rlhis invention Irelates to a life preserver and particularly tot such va device which c an "be used by the wearer while learning tol swim or which can be used'by'thewearer while on shipboard.

It is an object of this invention 'to provide a life prserver which may be'readily and fquic'lly attached or detached to orfrom the body of 't lo' he wearer f orusewhile inbathing cron shipboard. n

It is a further object of the mventlon to 'provide a'life preserverhaving a'compart- 'i'nent extending vover-the chest oit the/"wearer and compartments extending over leachgside -and each leg otthe wearer.

vIt is another object of the invention to provide such ia life preserver which' may be positively secured about the arms and legs ot the wearer for use without danger'otslippingxtrom the'k Abody Aot the wearer.

` Itis an'additional ob'ect of the invention toprovidean inlatabl'e'li'te preserva which can gbe i reinilated by wearer while v(the Vwearer is'us1n`,f. the samemm'j the water;` These and other obgects and'advantagesof the invention'will be'fullyset yforthlin the following description madef in connection jwithf-the accompanying drawings, in 'which' t like- `reference characters' refer to the same Vparts throughout the different views, and in taken on the'line 3 3 of Fig. 2, th'ecom! -part'ment .therein being shown in )non-iniated position in fullllines andv in inflated position' in dotted y1li-nes; and

Fig. ais a View similar to Fig. 3 showing a solid'tiller within the compartment.

Referring to the drawings. ythe device comprises, in general, two main sections, an outer section 5 and an inner section 6. These two sections are composed of blanks cut from flexible waterproof material, such as rubberized cloth. The outer section 5 is cut substantially rectangular in shape and has depending tabs 7 at either side thereof below the main body portion thereof adapted to extend along the legs ot the wearer. A" substantially semicircular portion is cut from the top of the Y outer section 5 to form av recessed portion at 8 adapted to fit around the front of the neck stran 12. one

2 isf'a'view in 'rear-elevationot the ot the wearer. Adjacent the top -side edges ot the. outer section 5, portions 'arev cut "out to f orm armholes 9. Inner section G is of 'substantially inverted vU-shape and has'a circular portion with a central opening ed to -it about the neck of the wearer. Ilnner Section5 also has semi-circular recesses l1 at either edge vthereof and-adjacentthe top lthereof corresponding to ythe linner haltet therein at the top forming a collar lO'adaptthe armholes 9 cut-in the outer section 5.5*

rIhe outer section 5 andthe ifnnersection 6 arest'itched, orother'wise secured toffether,

-along the'inner and outer edges of the inner section '76 to -form a waterproof andv airtight d compartment between thetwol sections.l yThe two sections are also stitched, or otherwise secured, at points extending a short distance upward from. the llower ends thereof. A `portion having-the vusual buckle thereon. the other portionhaviugthe 'usual punclrholes therein, Ais secured'lto each' ot the'ta'bs 7; Af .belt 13, one portion having thensual buckle thereon, theothe'r portion having'the usual holes therein, h'asen'ds' sfecured'v to oppositesides ofthe central router edges oftheoutersection. An air-inlet 14 is attached to thev outer Vside of the outer section 5'- adjacent the recessed portion y8,

extending into the compartment formed between lthe two sections, l'said'air inlet having Vthejusual air'valve (not 'shownland capot well-.known construction.

InFigJl ,acork orother buoyant solid filler 15 `is/inserted"in'rthe compartment formed betweenthe outer,section.:5y andthe Y inner 'section 6'. When such Vsolid filler is `used, ithea.ir..iinlet valve '14 need inotbe use'd .andasection's and 6' needy not `be tormedfot through the armholes 9 and the device is. ,i

then vpulled down over the body of the wearer. The straps 12 are then buckled around the legs of the `wearer and the belt 13 is buckled around the waist of the wearer. VhenY the solid filler isY used, the lite preserver is then ready for use. In the iny the water.

'llatable form of the device the air compartment formed between the two sections must be inflated. This can be done either by tbeinoutb or by any type of air pump, either before or after the life preserver is placed about the body of the wearer. As the air inlet 14 is adapted to lie adjacent the neck of the wearer, it can be seen that after the life preserver has been secured about the wearer, or eren while the device is being used in the water, the wearer can easily apply his mouth to the air inlet to blow the compartment up to full inflated condition. After the compartment has been inflated, the valve and cap in the air inlet ll will rctain the air in the compartment, and the. compartment being of waterproof material and air-tight, any escape of air will be prevented. The inflated life preserver can now be. used in the water.

It can be seen that a Very effective life preserver is obtained. By placingl a coinpartment across the chest of the wearer, the wearers head will be prevented from beingr subn'ierged in the water, while,` by forming a` compartment along each side and leg' of the wearer, the proper buoyancy will be given to the lower extremities of the body so that the wearer cannot possibly sink in It can also be seen that, when the wearer `lies flat on his stomach on the surface of the water in swimming position `or flat on his back, the legs of the wearer will be supported to hold the saine on tcp of the water in easy position for a beginner to learn how to swim. The device will also readily support the wearer in sitting position in the water with the wearers head out of water.

On shipboard the device can either be worn at all tiniesor can be kept accessible in case of emergency. The device can be f quickly placed about the body of a wearer Ailter use the device can be quickly removed from 'the wearers body by unbuckling belt 13 and straps l2 and slipping the device over the head and from the arms of the wearer. The compartments can then be deflated and the device folded in small coinpass for storage.

In addition to the use of tbe device as a life preserver, it will be found that tbe device will also provide a very convenient container for carryingl liquids or gases, or, by a few slight modifications, the device could be used for carryingl a large number of small solid articles.

The parts of the device are few and of very simple construction, and the same can be inexpensively and easily made. The device has been amply demonstrated and has been found lo be very ellicient and serviceable for the purposes set forth.

It will, of course, be understood thatvarious changes may be made in the form, details, proportions and arrangen'ient of parts without departing from the scope of appli-` cants invention, wl'iich generally consists in the structure defined, set forth and described in the following claim.

that is claimed is:`

A life preserver of flexible material lia-V- lug an outer section adapted to extend from the neck to the legs of the front portion of the body of the wearer, said section having apertures therein through which the head and shoulders of the `wearer are adapted to be inserted, a belt adapted to encircle the waist of the wearer, a strap adapted to encircle each leg of the wearer, said belt and straps being connected to said section, and an inner section cooperating with said outer section to forni an inverted Uwshaped` inilatable water tight compartment havingr an upper portion adapted to extend across the chest of the wearer and sideportions adapted to extend downwardly from said upper portion over the sides and legs of the wearer.

In testimony whereof I alfix my signature.

JAMES MCsHnRRY. 

